2001 Subaru Forester CAB air filter replacement

ADOBESIGNS

MEMBER

2001 SUBARU FORESTER

4 CYL

AWD

AUTOMATIC

115,829 MILES

Hello,
I have a 2001 Subaru Forester I want to replace the cabin air filter in. Not the engine compartment air filter, this I already completed in about 10 minutes.
I looked under the glovebox, located the access panel for the air filter, removed the two small c-clips from the front of the access panel which held it in place and removed the access panel itself (also removed the large removable rubber gasket that was attached to the access panel too).
I looked inside the canister at the cabin filter within and saw the filter is extreamly dirty. Also saw an enourmous amount of pine needles and misc debris inside the canister that are stuck onto the filter too. It's obviuos this cabin air filter is the original and has never been replaced.
From my general observation there appears to be no easy way to get at the cabin air filter to replace it without an extensive amount of disassembly. I have no concerns about tackling this project as I am very mechanicaly savy but I was wondering before I attempt this procedure myself, and in the hopes there may be an easier way, but was wondering if there's a particular set of instructions/procedures or visual how-to aid for doing the actual replacement of the cabin air filter?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thankyou,
Ed

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Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 AT 4:51 PM

3 Replies

SATURNTECH9

EXPERT

I posted the instructions and some diagrams it looks pretty straight forward.

Images (Click to enlarge)

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Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 AT 5:11 PM

ADOBESIGNS

MEMBER

Thankyou but a couple things need clarity please. Let me explain.
First, according to figure#1 the filter looks as if it's right there after removing the access cover and it'll comes straight down and out. But with the access cover removed and looking into the canister you can see the filter tucked up against the left side of the canister wall (if sitting in the passenger seat looking straight ahead facing the dashboard. Imagine then that the filter is inside up tight against the "left" wall of the canister). I can stick my fingers into the canister, barely able to touch the filter but have no way of gripping it. How's it supposed to come out if you can't get to it, not to mention how would the new one go back into place?
Second, figure#2 shows a rear and front filter assembly. Is there supposed to be (2) filters in the canister because clearly from what I see there's only one inside right now.

Thankyou,
Ed

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Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 AT 6:58 PM

SATURNTECH9

EXPERT

As far as how far the filter is up in there could it have been installed too far up inside the housing last time it was changed?As far as having two filters looks like its supposeded to have two I looked up the filter on www. Rockauto. Com and it shows one wixs filter listed and it comes with both filters as a set. Maybe someone cramed one filter up in there trying to take up the space of two filters?Is there room for the two filters?I would use a long pair of need nose pliers to carefully remove the old filter.